Curve (theatre)

Curve is a theatre in Leicester, England, based in the cultural quarter in Leicester City Centre. Before being named Curve, it was referred to as Leicester Performing Arts Centre.[1] It is adjacent to the Leicester Athena conference and banqueting centre.

Curve Theatre
Performing Arts Centre
AddressRutland Street
Leicester
UK
OwnerLeicester Theatre Trust
CapacityTheatre 968
Studio 350
Construction
Opened2008
Years active11
ArchitectRafael Viñoly
Website
www.curveonline.co.uk

Overview

Curve was designed by architect Rafael Viñoly in association with the scenographers ducks scéno and Charcoal Blue, Kahle Acoustics for acoustician studies and engineered by Adams Kara Taylor is based in the centre of what the City Council calls the new "Cultural Quarter" on Rutland Street. It features two auditoria, one with 970 seats (referred to as the Theatre) while a 350-seat auditorium (referred to as the Studio) provides a smaller space with its own power flying system. The Theatre, Studio and their stages can also be opened up to create one large space with a capacity of 1,300. When the 2 18 tonne steel walls separating the stage and the foyer are lifted, the stage is visible from street level. The glass façade encloses an open plan foyer with views onto the café, bars, backstage area, and across the stage.

The theatre was built by a partnership of Leicester City Council, Arts Council England (with funds from The National Lottery), East Midlands Development Agency, Leicester Shire Economic Partnership,[2] with the project part-financed by the European Union (ERDF), in partnership with Leicester Theatre Trust and in association with Phoenix Arts Centre.[3] The project was blighted by huge cost increases that more than doubled the initial estimates.[4]

The theatre opened on 11 November 2008 with a celebratory opening show called Lift Off.[5] This was followed by Simply Cinderella, which ran from 4 December 2008 (the day it was officially opened by the Queen) until 24 January 2009 – a new musical of the fairytale, written by Grant Olding[6] and Toby Davies,[7] and directed by dancer Adam Cooper.[8]

Curve theatre stage & auditorium from the open walled wing

Selected productions

Selected touring productions

• Les Miserables (2018)

• War Horse (2019)

• The Phantom of the Opera (2020)

Leicester Theatre Trust

Curve is run by the Leicester Theatre Trust (LTT), an independent charitable organisation.[3] LTT took over the operation of Curve in August 2008. The Leicester Theatre Trust formed in 1969, it is a regularly funded client of Arts Council England (ACE) and receives annual revenue funding from Leicester City Council.

From 1973 to 2007 the organisation programmed and operated the Haymarket Theatre.

See also

References
  1. "PAC Name Unveiled", BBC Leicester, 29 January 2008
  2. "Leicester Shire Economic Partnership". Encyclopedia Article. UK R Knowledge. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  3. "Leicester Theatre Trust announces inaugural production at Curve", Arts Council England 30 May 2008
  4. "Report critical of theatre costs". BBC News Online.
  5. "Royal Opening for City's Theatre", BBC, 4 December 2008
  6. "Grant Olding". Broadway World. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  7. "Toby Davies". International Movie DataBase. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  8. "Curve Announces Christmas Show", BBC Leicester, 16 May 2008

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